99 replies to this topic

[exxile]

Sir Patrick Moore, the war hero, presenter of The Sky at Night since 1957, and noted xylophone player, may have upset a few people. It will be interesting to see how broadcasting's elder statesman will be treated by his employers, and by the public at large.

He has reportedly said:

"We must take care. There may be another war. The Germans will try again, given another chance. A Kraut is a Kraut is a Kraut. And the only good Kraut is a dead Kraut".

He admitted there "can be good, free, honourable, decent Germans" only to add: "I haven’t met them myself, but I’m sure they exist".

He continued: "I’m no European. Why? Go to Europe and look around. The Germans tried to conquer us. The French betrayed us. The Belgians did very little and the Italians made us our ice cream".

"Just look at the world now and look at it when we had a bigger say in it. The English are best. Stand up for England".

[Just Browny]

Is it too late for him to get his papers in as a UKIP electoral candidate?

[Methven Hornet]

Is it too late for him to get his papers in as a UKIP electoral candidate?

Probably, but I thought the sweeping, xenophobic generalisations seemed familiar.

[Leeds Wire]

Probably, but I thought the sweeping, xenophobic generalisations seemed familiar.

Good grief, how embarrassing - and UKIP thought it might somehow increase their vote.

[tim2]

I respect Patrick Moore as a scientist but that's just bonkers.

[fieldofclothofgold]

I remember quite a few years ago,he and a group of friends actually formed there own party .I think it was called 'The United Country party'and they put up about 12 candidates for the general election,It was a long time ago maybe as far back as the 70s.I like to see his programs,and listen to him,but his politics he comes across as a crank

[exxile]

Presumably, these comments constitute a 'hate crime', so we can expect to see war hero Sir Patrick Moore arrested and charged soon.

[bowes]

Is it too late for him to get his papers in as a UKIP electoral candidate?

The UKIP leader has a German wife

Though as far as saying we should be British not European that is entirely right

Edited by bowes, 01 May 2012 - 01:41 PM.

[bowes]

Presumably, these comments constitute a 'hate crime', so we can expect to see war hero Sir Patrick Moore arrested and charged soon.

The one part that would be if he'd said it about another group is the 'only good German is a dead German' part which is unpleasant to put it mildly

[fieldofclothofgold]

The one part that would be if he'd said it about another group is the 'only good German is a dead German' part which is unpleasant to put it mildly

Yes its rabid to say the least.Has anyone got the full transcript of his statement and where and when he said this?

[Methven Hornet]

Yes its rabid to say the least.Has anyone got the full transcript of his statement and where and when he said this?

Interview in the Radio Times.

[Methven Hornet]

Though as far as saying we should be British not European that is entirely right

I don't think he has said that, it doesn't seem to be mentioned in any of the reports.

[Methven Hornet]

I respect Patrick Moore as a scientist but that's just bonkers.

I've always found it strange that someone like Moore can be so intellectually rigorous in one area but so lax in others. Does he not realise that his 'political' views are based upon his own personal prejudices?

[bowes]

I've always found it strange that someone like Moore can be so intellectually rigorous in one area but so lax in others. Does he not realise that his 'political' views are based upon his own personal prejudices?

I think having how fiancee die in the war has created this anti German prejudice. Not that that makes it right but trauma can scar people's thinking

Edited by bowes, 01 May 2012 - 02:09 PM.

[paley]

I've always found it strange that someone like Moore can be so intellectually rigorous in one area but so lax in others. Does he not realise that his 'political' views are based upon his own personal prejudices?

Aren't everybodies?

[Grinner]

He's been known for some fairly odd right-wing/xenophobic views in the past, so nothing new really:

http://en.wikipedia....litical_beliefs

[exxile]

I've always found it strange that someone like Moore can be so intellectually rigorous in one area but so lax in others. Does he not realise that his 'political' views are based upon his own personal prejudices?

Whereas other people's views, such as yours, are based upon an objective, rational analysis presumably, without any reference to their past experiences. It is surprising that we don't all reach the same conclusions.

[bowes]

Whereas other people's views, such as yours, are based upon an objective, rational analysis presumably, without any reference to their past experiences. It is surprising that we don't all reach the same conclusions.

If I lived in rural Perthshire rather than a city I quite plausibly could have shared his political views.

[Methven Hornet]

If I lived in rural Perthshire rather than a city I quite plausibly could have shared his political views.

Living in rural Perthshire, people tend not to have my political views. Clue: people living in rural areas tend to have quite conservative views.

My politics, as many people's are, were fashioned during my late teens, early twenties, and during the first part of that time I lived in a rapidly declining industrial town called Heywood. Then, when I got married, my wife and I moved to a multi-racial area of Rochdale, where any remaining prejudices I had about 'Pakistanis' were comprehensively challenged. Living in close proximity to people of a different race, religion and culture helped me to see through some of the hatreds that were peddled then (and now) by extreme right wing groups. I saw that these people were human, had normal lives, and had pretty much the same worries and concerns as I had (and similar faults and failings).

No, I think you'll find that having a rural background is much more likely to develop right wing attitudes. I mean look at some of the figures on the extreme right - let's take Nick Griffin, Nigel Farage, and, it would appear, Patrick Moore. Not exactly your average products of inner-city life, are they? Perhaps if they had encountered and known more Asians, east Europeans and, in Moore's case, Germans, French, Italians and Belgians, they may have avoided the temptation to de-humanise them.

[Methven Hornet]

Aren't everybodies?

Are you admitting that yours are?

I think it is quite normal to base views on your own prejudices. The intelligent course of action is to recognise what prejudices you have, which of your views are based upon these prejudices, and then challenge and revise those views in light of your experiences and acquired knowledge.